Restoring Lost Glory
6
Tuesday
May 4
Part 3
As represented in the experience of Joshua, the high priest, how
WHITE did
Satan try to defeat God's restoration plan?
GARMENTS
"He shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of
the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the
Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, 0 Satan; even the Lord
that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked
out of the fire: Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and
stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that
stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him.
And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass
from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said,
Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon
his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord
stood by" (Zech. 3:1-5).
Joshua the high priest stands as the representative of God's
faithful people. The angel represents Christ, whom Satan opposes.
As prince of this world (see John 14:30), Satan claims every in-
habitant as his own subject. He points to the filthy garments of the
high priest as proof that God's commandments cannot be obeyed.
But Jesus, in His humanity, did obey them. He can rightfully im-
pute that character to those whom He chooses and who choose
Him as Lord. As for the works of Joshua himself, they proved
to be nonmeritorious—what mattered was the righteousness of
Christ. And Christ is waiting to bestow on His submissive chil-
dren that which they seek but can never possibly earn.
How do I
see
myself in the experience of Joshua?
"A Change of Raiment.— . . .
'And he answered [the accusing
charge of Satan] and spake unto those [angels] that stood before
him [to do His bidding], saying, Take away the filthy garments
from him.' I will blot out his transgressions. I will cover his sins. I
will impute to him My righteousness. . . .
"The filthy garments are removed; for Christ says, 'I have
caused thine iniquity to pass from thee.' The iniquity is transferred
to the innocent, the pure, the holy Son of God; and man, all
undeserving, stands before the Lord cleansed from all unrigh-
teousness, and clothed with the imputed righteousness of
Christ...."
"And Christ does more than this for them: [Zech. 3:5 quoted].
"This is the honor that. God will bestow on those who are
clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness. With such
encouragement as this, how can men continue in sin? How can
they grieve the heart of Christ?"—Ellen G. White Comments,
S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol.
4, p. 1178.
Further Study:
Testimonies, vol.
5, pp. 471-476
44